Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
basically , we feel like tvOS 11 has been neglected by Apple . iOS 11 introduced amazing new characteristic like drag - and - drop-off and an all - raw customisable Control Centre for iPhone and iPad , features that ’ll be used every 24-hour interval by a big helping of substance abuser . tvOS 11 , on the other hand , does n’t really offer anything like that . If anything , tvOS 11 is a ‘ uncouth sense ’ update for Apple , addressing many of the number with tvOS 10 without really introducing anything unexampled . Even the television receiver app is n’t new for users in the US . Do n’t misapprehend us : it ’s a welcome update that ’ll make life easy for a serving of Apple television drug user , but it does n’t precisely reinvent the television set - determine experience .
Apple took to the stage atWWDC 2017to expose a slew of software and hardware updates include a new10.5 in iPad , iOS 11andtvOS 11 . Fast forward to September 2017 and tvOS 11 is now available to download on the fourth- and fifth - generation Apple TV , but while iOS 11 introduced a mountain chain of novel features , tvOS 11 seems to have been somewhat miss . Carry on read to find out why .
( For information about the next major update , take a flavor at ourtvOS 12 rumour roundup . )
tvOS 11: Interface
At a coup d’oeil , you may not see exactly what ’s new in the tvOS 11 interface – that ’s because , essentially , not much has change . There are a fistful of novel features that may make the daytime - to - 24-hour interval use of the Apple TV a minuscule promiscuous though .
Automatic appearance switching
Apple first introduce Dark Mode with tvOS 10 in September 2016 . The feature adjusts the appearance of backgrounds and menus throughout the tvOS interface to make the showing a little easygoing on your eyes at dark . It was a welcome increase for many that prefer a darker background for their home theater environment , or simply for those sick and tired of being blinded by the white UI after a recent - night Netflix binge .
The issue was that it had to be activated manually . This was done in one of two ways : by toggle it on and off in the preferences menu , or by ask Siri to turn it on and off . It ’s not exactly a operose task , but consider Nightshift on iOS and Mac can automatically turn itself on and off depending on sunrise and sunset , why could n’t the Apple television receiver ?
Thankfully , that feature has been impart in tvOS 11 . The optional feature permit the Apple TV to automatically switch between the swooning and dark interfaces depend on the meter of Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , provide the most comfortable UI ground on local idle levels . The feature even demand the vary sunrise and sunset times throughout the year based on your location .
It ’s the in force of both worlds , especially for those of us that can appreciate the benefit of give birth a benighted UI while still appreciating the light feeling of the stock UI .
Home Screen Sync
Okay , admittedly this wo n’t better the lives of many Apple TV owners , but it ’ll benefit those who use multiple Apple tv and those face to elevate to the newApple TV 4K. Why ? tvOS 11 introduces Home Screen Sync , a new characteristic that sync your apps and home screen layout across any Apple TV race tvOS 11 connected to your iCloud account .
It make the setup of a Modern Apple TV a breeze if you ’ve already induce an survive quaternary - gen Apple TV , as you ’ll only need to lumber into iCloud and sit back while your data is download from the cloud . Again , it ’s not a feature that many will apprise , but for the few that it does benefit , it makes Apple television management a little easy .
tvOS 11: New features
Along with registration to the substance abuser port and dwelling house screen , there are a handful of fresh lineament in tvOS 11 – although one may already be familiar to US users .
Better AirPod support
The hope of Apple ’s wireless phone , Airpods , was that they could touch base to any Apple twist connected to your Apple ID . That was genuine for the most part – it would link up to any iPad , iPhone or Mac , but not the Apple television . It makes late - dark viewing much gentle as the audio output will come through only the AirPods , not disturbing anyone log Z’s nearby .
It ’s a small update that brings a nice calibre of life melioration to those who have had to manually geminate the earphones up until now .
TV app
TheTV appis a Modern addition to tvOS 11 – or at least it will be once it ’s released . Apple has promised that will be before the closing of 2017 for Apple television owners in the UK , Canada , Australia , Germany , France , Norway and Sweden , following nine months of exclusivity in the US .
The app allow you to browse content from a number of sources without having to switch apps . It includes services like HBO Now , CBS and Hulu in the US , although there will be UK - concenter source available on the app at launching . While the full lean is yet to be confirmed , Apple tease that My5 will be a part of the catalogue .
What is n’t exonerated is if it ’ll be joined by the likes of BBC iPlayer , All 4 , UKTV Play and ITV Hub – all critical sources for succeeder in the UK . Netflix is n’t a part of the catalogue , and it ’s yet to be seen whether Amazon ’s TV program library will be uncommitted to browse when the app drops later this twelvemonth .
We ’re yet to expend it ourselves , but our colleagues at Macworld US provides amore detailed flavor at what the television app go .
That ’s not all that ’s new , as US users will also realise access to live mutant via the idiot box app later on this year . No word has been give on when this is probable to roam out outside the US , however .
Amazon Prime support
And finally , the Apple TV is set to get accession to Amazon Prime Video after lag behind many competitors for old age . It ’s not available at launch but Apple has predict that like the telecasting app , it ’ll be available to download before the closing of 2017 .
It ’s a welcome improver for all Apple television receiver owner , but particularly those who own the new Apple TV 4 K as it ’ll allow for another origin of 4 K content beside the ilk of iTunes and Netflix .
tvOS 11: Device compatibility
So , which gadget can get approach to tvOS 11 ? It ’s a relatively short list this time around as , unsurprisingly , Apple has n’t added tvOS financial support to older twist ( and has no intention of doing so ):
